Situated
in the courtyard of the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the famous Iron Pillar belongs
to its 4th century. The Sanskrit inscription in Gupta script and the
peculiar style of its 'Amalaka' capital confirms the date. As evident
from these inscriptions, this pillar was originally set up as a flag or
'dhvaja' of Lord Vishnu on the hill known as 'Vishnupada' as a tribute
to King Chandragupta II (375-413) of the imperial Gupta dynasty. It is
also suggested that a deep hole on the top of the pillar was used to fit
the image of 'Garuda' as a standard of Vishnu. It is said to be brought
to Delhi by Anangpal, the Tomar king who founded Delhi. The base of the pillar is tied to its foundations by small pieces of iron. It rises to a height of 7.20 m, with 93 cm buried below the present floor level. It is a wonder that iron has not rusted despite the sixteen centuries that have passed since then and is an excellent example of advanced metallurgy of those times. It is a marvel in itself. The metal of the pillar is identified to be almost pure malleable iron. However, the portion below the ground shows some signs of rusting at a very slow rate. According to the traditional belief, any one who can encircle the entire column with their arms, with their back towards the pillar, can have their wish granted. However, tourists are kept off from the pillar to avoid damage to this historical relic.
